To disassemble your Stardust you will need the following

[zoiDman]

... I don't know what happened but now I play with 4000 watt 5 axis lasers cutting 3/4" thick steel. lol

Yeah, Lasers are a Trip.

I've written a lot of 2, 4 and 5 Axis Code for them. Having come from a CNC Milling background, I was Very Impressed the first time I saw a Laser cut 1/2" Invar at F70.0

But the thing that Really Blew Me Away was when I saw how closely Nest Flat Parts could be Placed when doing 2D cutting. That and the setup time was all of about 10 Minutes. Fork the Material onto the Spikes, Rack and Clamp It to the Stops. Set the Focus and hit the Green Button.

Wild Stuff.

 

[vapspaz]

Fork the Material onto the Spikes, Rack and Clamp It to the Stops. Set the Focus and hit the Green Button.

Wild Stuff.

More like ...
Fork the material onto the bed
Roll the bed into the cabin
Call up program and hit the Green button.

5 axis work is just a little more involved to to program and get the fixtures set-up. lol

 

[antfuzz]

A couple of suggestions:

Cut the 3/8" tubing, before disassembly, so that it is flush with the bottom of the Stardust. Now you do have a stop so there is no need for trial and error.

Use a parallel clamp, sufficiently wide, to press the Stardust apart and back together. This will apply the pressure more evenly and should reduce the risk of fractures.

Sent from an alternate reality using my Droid

That's an excellent idea for the 3/8" tubing.The tubing could be cut using a fine toothed hacksaw and then either using a file or sandpaper to make it even with the bottom of the tube. A Dremel tool can also be used.

 

[RockinRobbieSF]

Well, here's my try:

 

[badkolo]

i would use a plastic ballpeen hammer and not a metal one. great fantastic video and we truly appreciate all you do

 

[zoiDman]

i would use a plastic ballpeen hammer and not a metal one. great fantastic video and we truly appreciate all you do

Guess I'm old School. A BR thing M<aybe? Cause I played the arm off this Piece of Vinyl 27 Ways to Sunday. Didn't we All?


LOL.

: D

 

[zoiDman]

BTW – Is there a Bad song On that piece of Abby Road? WT,DT. Big Time.

Even when They said that Paul was Dead?

 

[Big Screen D]

Bravo Robbie, and Antfuzz!

Not sure how many times one would want to, or be able to bang these with a hammer without breaking something.

Once the initial tank removal is done, smoothing some of the knurling off of the base, and adding a slight taper to the base edges makes future disassemble easy.

Best way is to remove the o-ring so it isn't damaged, place the cup side in a drill, then use sandpaper or a file to smooth out the base some. The drill acts as a lathe so the base remains true round.

Don't take off to much. It needs to be somewhat hard to push back together so it doesn't slide up and affect the mouthpiece fit and cause a leak.

 

[antfuzz]

Robbie well done, and I like your new intro. Interestingly when I first became frustrated trying to remove the inside the only thing I had laying around was a piece of aluminum leftover from something and did it the exact same way as in your video.

 

[Richie G]

Antfuzz...

I was with you until the hammer part. =) Even though it seems to work for you and for Rob, I have a thought that might make this easier. I can't get to a plumbing supply today or I'd try it myself.

If you were to take that 9/16" tubing and cut it down so that it fit inside the tube and just a heavy 1/8" or so above the center post, then simply screwing in the mouthpiece *should* break the tube free of the base. Well, one of two things will happen -- the tube will break free of the base or top metal ring will break free from the tube... that would be bad. lol

Anyway, the thought here is the tube is pressed in, so it should be able to be pressed back out sans a hammer. It might be a little tough to turn the mouthpiece in being that there is no grip to it. Alternatively, a metric bolt of the same thread as the mouthpiece with a small wrench would surely get the job done.

What-cha think? You game to try? LOL

Tell ya what.. if you try it and the top metal ring pops off, I'll send you a new Stardust. Motivation enough? =)

 

[zoiDman]

Antfuzz...

I was with you until the hammer part. =) Even though it seems to work for you and for Rob, I have a thought that might make this easier. I can't get to a plumbing supply today or I'd try it myself.

If you were to take that 9/16" tubing and cut it down so that it fit inside the tube and just a heavy 1/8" or so above the center post, then simply screwing in the mouthpiece *should* break the tube free of the base. Well, one of two things will happen -- the tube will break free of the base or top metal ring will break free from the tube... that would be bad. lol

Anyway, the thought here is the tube is pressed in, so it should be able to be pressed back out sans a hammer. It might be a little tough to turn the mouthpiece in being that there is no grip to it. Alternatively, a metric bolt of the same thread as the mouthpiece with a small wrench would surely get the job done.

What-cha think? You game to try? LOL

Tell ya what.. if you try it and the top metal ring pops off, I'll send you a new Stardust. Motivation enough? =)

I dunno if the Plastic threads that hold the Mouth Piece in place are Strong Enough to press out the Guts of a Stardust?

 

[RockinRobbieSF]

I dunno if the Plastic threads that hold the Mouth Piece in place are Strong Enough to press out the Guts of a Stardust?

Yeah, I think you'd ruin the Stardust.

 

[wolf1959]

Why would anyone think taking a hammer to plastic or using plastic threads to push this apart (still leaving reassembly; let me guess - hammer time again? ) is a good idea???

The first choice would be a parallel jaw clamp or vice. This will allow a smooth application of force and should minimize stress and, therefore, fractures.

Second would be channel pliers (where the jaws are at an angle to the handles). Although not as smooth and steady as above, it should be good enough. Of course, I would place a piece of wood or plastic between the jaws and Stardust to avoid problems.

Okay, I can hear the angry crowd closing in, armed with hammers. Yes, I know many of you only have hammers or just like to use them. We can be flexible, right? Place the Stardust on a board or table. Place the flat side of the hammer and press. So this should even please the hammered mob (not a typo).

Sent from an alternate reality using my Droid

 

[Randyrtx]

The technique is being refined, but sometimes it takes a little brute force to get the ball rolling!

 

[zoiDman]

That and who doesn't Like Hitting something with a Hammer?

I for one have a "Hammer Box". It's a place to put things that are Broken or Don't Work. Or things that Work but Work Poorly. Or just things that Piss You Off.

About once a Month when I'm in a Bad Mood, like after I write out the Bills, I will take the Hammer Box out in the Backyard and Smash the Living Crap out of all the items.

Sometimes it's with a 10lbs Engineering Hammer. Sometimes I use the Ball End of a Ball Peen Hammer. Depends on the Item and the Amount of Destruction I want to Achieve per Hammer Blow.

So I can Understand a Person Reaching for a Hammer to remove a Fussy Stardust Tube.

I know I was thinking about it.

 

[zoiDman]

BTW - I used one of these and a piece of Dowel Rod earlier today to Press out the guts of a Startdust.

 

[antfuzz]

zoiDman,

A clamp is a very good idea. Sadly I had to sell all mine several years ago. I could've told everybody to use a bearing press but most people don't know what that is. Or you could use a drill press most people know what that is but don't have one.

 

[antfuzz]

Oh my!!!!!
Look what I did

No leaking so far, keeping fingers crossed. I'm still playing around with the wiring, will let everyone know how this works out.​

 

[RockinRobbieSF]

Sweet! I'm jealous!

Now admit you just painted the original mouthpiece!

Oh my!!!!!
Look what I did

No leaking so far, keeping fingers crossed. I'm still playing around with the wiring, will let everyone know how this works out.​

 

[antfuzz]

Sweet! I'm jealous!

Now admit you just painted the original mouthpiece!

It almost looks that way doesn't it. But if you look closely the metal band at the top is missing.